Monty Python and the Holy Grail producer Mark Forstater claims that he has not received his share of proceeds from the musical, which is based on the original 1975 film.

Palin dismissed Forstater's claims that he should be considered the "seventh member" of the Monty Python team.

He testified: "It may have been what he wanted, but it was never going to be accepted by the Pythons. The idea of a 'seventh Python' just doesn't happen. It was never going to be accepted.

"I don't think there was ever any suggestion this man was going to be a 'seventh Python'. He was not the creator of the film. The film had been created by the Python team entirely.

"Mark came on board. He became the producer. But I don't think he was entitled to anything beyond that. Mark was not part of our team. There were six of us. We were a tight group. We wrote our own material."

Palin also told the court that any "major decisions" would only have been decided by "the Pythons themselves".

He added: "I find it really bizarre that Mark should think he would have been there writing the film with us. It just wouldn't happen."

Eric Idle and Terry Jones will also give evidence at London's High Court. The case continues.